Read our handy guide to car insurance in Japan below or send us an inquiry at the bottom of the page.

Guide to Car Insurance in Japan

Compulsory Car Insurance
Driving a car in Japan requires Japanese Compulsory Automobile Insurance, or JCI (sometime Compulsory Automobile Liability Insurance, or CALI). JCI mandatory insurance only covers the other parties of the accident up to 30 million yen in coverage for death (of third party), 40 million yen for ongoing injuries (to third party), and 1.2 million yen for injury (to third party) as a result of an at fault accident.

If in a serious “at fault” accident the driver will have to pay out of their own pocket not only for any damages over and above the coverage provided, but also their passenger’s injury or death, or property damage of any kind.

It really is very, very basic coverage only.

JCI insurance is taken out as a part of the “shakken” process, which includes both the compulsory insurance and a mandatory 60-point inspection including both essential safety equipment (headlights and indicator lamps) and functional equipment (tires and wheel alignment, brakes, speedometer, emissions, suspension, steering, drive shaft, muffler, engine (oil or coolant leaks) etc.

The insurance issuance/renewal and inspections are required:

For the initial registration when purchasing a new car

Three years after the initial registration of a new car

Every two years after that in perpetuity

In this manner the Japanese government is able to ensure that nearly every car on the street is both road worthy and carries at least the legal minimum of insurance coverage.

Voluntary Car Insurance
Voluntary (comprehensive - full coverage) insurance isn't required by law, but it is highly recommended. Compulsory insurance provides some basic protection for other drivers on the road in the event of an accident, but voluntary insurance is designed to protect you and your investment by offering higher levels of coverage and covering more types of damages, for example:

Collision coverage pays for damage to your vehicle if it is involved in a collision with another vehicle or object

Comprehensive coverage pays for damages not related to a collision, such as vandalism or theft

Medical payments coverage pays for injuries to your passengers

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage

Emergency road Service

Rental reimbursement

Mechanical breakdown insurance

Not every policy will contain these options or even the same levels of protection for each. You can tailor your policy to better fit your individual needs and budget.

Premiums
The price a consumer pays for their insurance premiums in Japan is determined using a system of numbered levels, between one and 20; most people start at level six when buying insurance for the first time. Recent arrivals to Japan should be aware that only their time driving in Japan will count, and will almost always be started at level 6 regardless of actual years driving experience or past non-accident history that they may have.

Filing a claim may cause the driver’s points to drop below six, which will make their premiums more expensive. If the driver drops below level 3 coverage becomes hard to find or very expensive and once they are at 1point, they will find it pretty much impossible to get any kind of voluntary insurance at all.

Rising to a higher level will significantly lower a driver’s rates. Gaining points over time through good driving, and not filing claims, will lower the premiums paid by the driver significantly.

“Everyone is at fault” Liability
Liability is one of the most notable differences between insurance in Japan and
other countries; accidents here are almost never decided as entirely the fault of
only one party unless one car was physically stationary.

Liability here in Japan will always be divided between all parties at some level;
anecdotally this is often 80/20, but of course it would depend a great deal on
circumstances, location, etc. If a driver is involved in an accident, and their car
was moving, in almost all cases they will be held liable to some extent. This
also explains why regardless of how small the accident is, if it involves another
car, the police must always be contacted to come to the scene before both
parties leave to have them fill in a report. This is required at all times.
A driver’s Insurance firm’s role is to help negotiate their client’s portion of this
liability as low as possible. But to assist them in this, they will require a full
accident report including photos of the car and location. So always remember
to take photos at the accident scene if physically possible.

English Speaking Service
In general, Japanese insurance agents lack English speaking ability, and
documents are only presented in Japanese. Lease Japan can offer excellent
service in English, and we will take the time to learn your needs and fully
explain your options.

Common Mistakes

Too Little Insurance Coverage

In Japan accidents are almost never decided to be 100% the fault of one party
over the other; unless one car is not moving. If the car is moving, it can be
expected in nearly all cases that car’s driver will be held liable to some extent.

Negotiating the extent of their client's liability is one of the primary benefits insurance companies offer to holders of voluntary over compulsory only insurance coverage.

Using Coverage Too Readily

Using insurance to cover even small bumps, scratches or other minimal
damage to a car raises premiums and lowers the driver’s “point level” within the
system. Reporting too many incidents may result in significantly higher rates,
and make the driver uninsurable in some cases.

Sometimes paying out of pocket to ensure a good insurance record is the best
bet.

Too Much Insurance Coverage

Insuring a used vehicle for full replacement value unnecessarily is a common
mistake. Insuring some vehicles for full replacement value usually means
paying premiums that are way too high.

Lease Japan has long been the most trusted name for car leasing and sales in Japan’s foreign community, and now we bring that trust, experience, and exceptional customer service to the auto insurance market.

If you have questions about your insurance options feel free to contact us via the contact form above or call us at